Shradh
“Pitrapaksh” has an importance in “Hindu Religion” and “Hindu Culture”. The rituals performed for our ancestors with gratitude are known called “Shradh”. Those who do not conduct them, could not be considered as “Hindus”. According to the “Vedas”, after death of a person, his soul goes to the “Moon” and then it rises over and reaches the “Pitralok”. These souls, get their powers by “Pinddaan” and “Shradh”. On the occasion of “Shradh”, priests are invited for the feast and donation are offered in the name of our “Pitra”. “Pitra” gets satisfied of the merits accruing out of “Shradh”.
“Shradh” should be done twice a year for “pitra”, first on the date when the person died and second in the “Pitra Paksh”.
On the particular date of a month in a year when a person dies, the “Shradh” held on that date is known as `Ekodish-Shradh’. On this date, food is given to a brahmin forever Ancestor’s satisfaction.
In the month of `Ashwin’ on the date of ‘Krishna-Paksh’ when the person dies, the “shradh” we do on that day is called ‘Pann-Shradh’. It is a saying that our Ancestors come on earth to their relatives feast on the food offered to them by their descendants, and bless them. It is a saying that we should give food to nine priests during the “shradh”, however, if we invite even one priest on the feast and show him proper respect this is more than enough.
The meaning of “shradh” is the work did with devotion, if the person is poor and is not able to feast a Brahmin than he can give green fodder to the cow in the name of Ancestors and apologize to our Ancestors that he has only love and devotion to offer them as prayers and ask forgiveness. The ancestors would be happy by his gesture and would bless him and his family.
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